The Experience
You will love: Perfect for your family, friends, furry friends and headlamps. The experience is a celebration of your wide eyed exploring inner self.
You need to know:
The tunnel's previous life was a train tunnel in the late 1800's built into the heart of the mountainside. The trail summary provided here is from the west entrance. The hike is safe for families, young kids and furry loved ones.
The west entrance is found off route 250 just outside of Waynesboro, VA and perfectly situated between Shenandoah NP and Blue Ridge parkway. (the west entrance houses a larger parking lot )
There is no entrance fee to the trail but be mindful the area closes at 6pm. Begin your trail along the road sized gravel trail as it weaves through the hillside flush with dense forest. The trail progresses for 0.75 miles before you reach the tunnel entrance. The tunnel has no lighting so bring flashlights and headlamps (just adds to the experience!!) the tunnel itself is just under a mile long in one direction, and at its center is 700 ft. below the outside world. The tunnel yields to a world of beautiful rock, stunning textures and slivers of water draining from the mountain blended with human intervention (concrete and support structures) . The trail exits into the east entrance, with its small waterfalls and memorialized plaque. To return to your car, reenter the tunnel and retrace your steps to your car.
HIKE ON!
GEAR RECOMMENDATIONS
You need to know:
- No entrance fee
- Will be underground for 2/3 of the hike
- Bring headlamp
The tunnel's previous life was a train tunnel in the late 1800's built into the heart of the mountainside. The trail summary provided here is from the west entrance. The hike is safe for families, young kids and furry loved ones.
The west entrance is found off route 250 just outside of Waynesboro, VA and perfectly situated between Shenandoah NP and Blue Ridge parkway. (the west entrance houses a larger parking lot )
There is no entrance fee to the trail but be mindful the area closes at 6pm. Begin your trail along the road sized gravel trail as it weaves through the hillside flush with dense forest. The trail progresses for 0.75 miles before you reach the tunnel entrance. The tunnel has no lighting so bring flashlights and headlamps (just adds to the experience!!) the tunnel itself is just under a mile long in one direction, and at its center is 700 ft. below the outside world. The tunnel yields to a world of beautiful rock, stunning textures and slivers of water draining from the mountain blended with human intervention (concrete and support structures) . The trail exits into the east entrance, with its small waterfalls and memorialized plaque. To return to your car, reenter the tunnel and retrace your steps to your car.
HIKE ON!
GEAR RECOMMENDATIONS
- 1 water bottle
- flashlight or headlamps
- trail bars
- hiking shoes OR running shoes
- bug spray (summer)
